Rubber Oil Cooler Mounts, 1 Tall, 4 Pack

OVERVIEW

In the high-stakes world of air-cooled performance, heat is your engine''s primary enemy. Adding an external oil cooler is a mandatory upgrade for any serious VW enthusiast, but how you mount that cooler is just as critical as the cooler itself. These EMPI Rubber Oil Cooler Mounts are engineered to solve the most common cause of cooler failure: vibration fatigue. When an oil cooler is bolted rigidly to a chassis, roll cage, or shroud, every engine vibration and every bump on the road or trail is transmitted directly into the delicate aluminum welds and cooling fins. Over time, this leads to stress fractures and catastrophic oil leaks. By utilizing these 1-inch tall rubber isolators, you create a floating suspension system for your cooling core, decoupling it from the harsh movements of the vehicle and significantly extending the life of your expensive oiling system components.

Constructed from high-density, oil-resistant rubber compounds with integrated zinc-plated steel studs, these mounts are designed to withstand the brutal environment found in a Volkswagen engine bay or the exposed underside of a Baja Bug. The 1-inch height is specifically chosen to provide a crucial air gap between the cooler and the mounting surface, which is essential for maximizing thermal dissipation and allowing air to pass through the core rather than being trapped against a flat plate. Whether you are building a high-performance street Beetle, a heavy-duty Type 2 Transporter for summer camping trips, or a dedicated off-road sand rail, these mounts provide the professional-grade isolation required to keep your oil system pressurized and your engine running cool under the most demanding conditions.

FITMENT

These rubber mounts are universal in nature and are designed to work with most aftermarket oil cooler brands, including EMPI, Mesa, Derale, and Hayden. They are perfectly suited for the following Volkswagen applications and custom builds:

• VW Beetle & Super Beetle: All years and models with external oil cooling systems.
• VW Karmann Ghia: All years (Type 14 and Type 34).
• VW Type 2 Bus / Transporter / Westfalia: 1950 through 1979 models.
• VW Type 3: Squareback, Fastback, and Notchback models.
• VW Thing (Type 181): Ideal for rugged off-road cooling setups.
• Dune Buggies & Sand Rails: Essential for protecting coolers from high-impact landings and chassis flex.
• Baja Bugs: Specifically designed to handle the extreme vibrations of off-road racing and trail riding.
• Custom Air-Cooled Builds: Any application requiring vibration isolation for fluid coolers or lightweight accessories.

SPECS

• Quantity: Set of 4 mounts per pack.
• Height (Rubber Section): 1 inch (25.4mm).
• Stud Diameter: 0.225 inches (Compatible with most standard cooler brackets).
• Material: Heavy-duty, oil-resistant synthetic rubber.
• Hardware: Dual-sided zinc-plated steel studs for corrosion resistance.
• Vibration Dampening: High-frequency absorption for aluminum core protection.
• Application: Universal mounting for oil coolers, fuel pumps, and transmission coolers.

PRO TIPS FROM THE SHOP

Tip 1: Account for Electrical Grounding

One of the most common mistakes when using rubber mounts for an oil cooler that features an integrated electric fan is forgetting that rubber is an insulator. Because these mounts electrically decouple the cooler from the chassis, your fan will not have a ground path if it relies on the cooler frame for its ground. To avoid a non-functioning fan, always run a dedicated 12-gauge or 14-gauge ground wire from the fan motor or the cooler frame directly to a clean, unpainted spot on the vehicle chassis. Don''t rely on the mounting studs to provide a ground through the rubber!

Tip 2: Avoid Over-Tightening the Studs

When installing these mounts, it is tempting to crank down on the nuts to ensure they won''t vibrate loose. However, over-tightening can compress the rubber to the point where it loses its dampening properties or, worse, can pull the steel stud right out of the rubber body. Use a small drop of blue (medium strength) thread-locking compound on the studs and tighten the nuts until they are snug and the rubber just begins to show very slight compression. This ensures the mount stays secure while still being able to flex and absorb the shock as intended.

Tip 3: Optimize Airflow with the 1-Inch Clearance

The 1-inch height of these mounts is a huge advantage for cooling efficiency. If you are mounting your cooler to a flat firewall or a solid belly pan, that 1-inch gap allows the air that has passed through the cooler to escape or allows fresh air to reach the back of the core. To maximize this, ensure that your mounting surface doesn''t completely block the exit of the air. If you are mounting to a solid plate, consider cutting a "window" in the plate slightly smaller than the cooler core. This, combined with the 1-inch stand-off provided by the mounts, creates a venturi effect that pulls significantly more heat away from your oil than a flush-mounted setup ever could.